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Cullerton’s speech, lightly annotated

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* From Senate President John Cullerton’s inauguration speech yesterday as prepared for delivery…

The state needs a budget. Period.

This has become nearly as ridiculous as it is frustrating. People – real people in the real world — are fed up. And they blame all of us.

I’m prepared to do something about this, and so is Leader Radogno. We have made it clear that the Senate will offer solutions and leadership. Today, we are filing more than a dozen proposals containing the contents of our budget and reform plan. The intent is to quickly pass them in this new session.

It is my hope that the Illinois House and you, Mr. Governor, will join us.

From Cullerton’s office…

The Senate Assignments Committee assigned the components of the so-called “grand bargain” plan to the following committees. This was done to position them for public input and committee hearings later this month.

Senate Appropriations 1: SB 4, 6
Executive Committee: SB 1, 2, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
Gaming Committee: SB 7
Local Government Committee: SB 3
Revenue Committee: SB 9

* Back to Cullerton…

Believe me, I recognize that this is not an easy task. But it’s time for the Senate to step up and provide leadership.

We’ve done this before.

Eight years ago today, the Illinois Senate ushered in a new era when Senator Radogno and I were first elected to lead our caucuses.

Many of you may have forgotten, or perhaps were lucky enough to have never known the personal political wars that had consumed this chamber and much of state government at the time.

A governor by the name of Blagojevich presided over that 2009 inauguration ceremony. And right after we got the gavel away from him, we – the Illinois Senate– began an impeachment trial that would remove him from office.

So we’ve seen some pretty bad times. And we’ve gotten through them by working together.

That was the promise Leader Radogno and I made eight years ago. And together … we have worked. We’ve made historic changes in Illinois.

Look, I’ll be the first to complain that we – the Senate - don’t get the credit or attention we deserve.

That could be because we tend to cooperate rather than tear each other apart.

Too often, if there’s no conflict, there’s no coverage.

And as if to prove his point, there were just four reporters in the Senate press box yesterday.

* Back to the speech…

Unfortunately, we find ourselves seemingly mired in a new campaign season before the old one ended. While we call for bipartisanship and compromise, political attack dogs snipe at every development.

There’s plenty of time and issues to campaign on … when it’s campaign season. How about we try governing for a bit? That’s what the people sent us here to do.

Those lines were heartily applauded, but it didn’t stop the blatant campaigning.

* Back to Cullerton…

Frankly, I think the state’s been shaken up enough. Let’s make Illinois great again.

I think we’ve made it clear that the Senate’s not afraid to take tough votes to solve problems and move this state forward.

So let’s get to it.

Comments

Very helpful having all the bill numbers, thanks.

Comment by Rod Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 3:10 pm
So the Governor gets to trash legislators at will, pay off others, and does not have to commit to, or file any, legislation to get the state budget in any fiscal shape. He deserves the salary he is taking. He sure knows how to skirt responsibilty, and Cullerton is happy to let that happen.

Comment by My New Handle Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 3:18 pm
>Senate President John Cullerton’s inauguration speech

I like the speech. Not about blame, a focus on the Senate as a whole and its accomplishments, a sense of bipartisanship. For whatever it’s worth, it felt sincere as well.

Comment by Earnest Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 3:21 pm
Sounds like Lucy Radogno is holding the football again.

Comment by Liberty Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 3:24 pm
===and Cullerton is happy to let that happen===

What are you, an anarchist?

We need a budget. He may be getting us close to one. Judging by your IP address, you draw a government salary, so you might wanna reconsider your “let the government die” attitude.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 3:26 pm
It’s a smoke signal to the other chamber. They can look up and pay attention, OR continue to spew the hot air they’ve been spewing and let the wind they create blow the signal away.

It looks to me like that chamber is serious.

Comment by A guy Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 3:30 pm
=I like the speech.=

Me too. Let’s lessen the acrimony ramp up the positive attitude.

Comment by Illinoised Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 3:32 pm
Very good Mr. President (the only president I’ll be able to respect for the next 4 years). As you know all to well, you will get blowback from Madigan. You will need to engage where possible and reject when unreasonable. Work on a reasonable Dem agenda that can coexist with a reasonable GOP agenda to ensure, but don’t permit Madigan to dictate the legislative Dem agenda.

To Senator Radogno, you have disappointed since Rauner’s inauguration. You have now taken a tremendous step forward as a leader in Illinois for Illinoisans. Keep it up. Rauner has caused great damage to this state in his attempt to kill unions, especially public sector unions. You’re engagement with President Cullerton gives us hope that we can move in a positive direction. As Cullerton needs to stay strong with Madigan, you need to stand up to Rauner. Hopefully, Durkin will embrace your efforts and join in negotiating a compromise.

Good luck and godspeed. Illinois needs this effort so badly.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 3:32 pm
Oops - “ensure you get an agreement”

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 3:34 pm
Cullerton and Radogno (generally) work well together. This strengthens that notion. The leadership term limit resolution and the initial round of bills are a good blueprint going forward.

Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 3:37 pm
I applaud both Senate leaders for working together and hope, for all of us, that their budget efforts bear fruit.

Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 3:48 pm
Why can’t the Cullerton get along with the Speaker as well as he does with Radogno?

Because the Speaker has to have total control-
King Madigan

Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 3:50 pm
The GOP thinks they can turn Illinois the same way they did Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania. They perceive Madigan’s power as they lynchpin to keep the Democratic party’s wheels on. And they’re going to use the same strategies they used in WI, MI, PA, OH, NC, and FL to get to a place where they can gut unions, undermine or eliminate tenure, reward some key constituent industries, and install the Koch/Heritage Foundation programs that rile up their base in those states. They will not stop until they achieve those goals or determine conclusively that Illinois is a bridge too far. So it’s either give up and let them get their way, or push back hard enough that they give up. For both sides this is really an existential battle, and as pleasant a diversion from the carnage as it may be, the Senate’s admirable make-nice isn’t going to deter anyone else from backing down.

Comment by Pangloss Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 3:50 pm
Well the only jointly sponsored bill I see is SB 8 (Amends the Illinois Procurement Code), which both Senators Don Harmon and Pamela Althoff sponsored together. All the rest of the grand bargain bill are filed by either Democrats or Republicans.

In my opinion that shows at least some reluctance to put themselves on the line across the aisle for a grand bargain.

I can well understand why no Republican wants to be seen as a sponsor of SB 4 that borrows $7 billion to pay back debt, Senator Trotter gets to put that noose around his neck. The howling of the Illinois Policy Institute can already be heard. Sen Christine Radogno is a sponsor or co-sponsor of only one of the grand bargain bills SB 2-13. Its SB 13 on the property tax freeze which is not exactly a high risk bill for her, a profile in courage to be sure.

The CPS pension payment bill (SB 5) needless to say remains on sponsored by President Cullerton with no Republican co-sponsor, no surprise there really. The fact that all the bills must pass for any to be enacted effectively creates the lock in of a deal. But it creates sort of plausible denial of responsibility for the content of the bills even if voted for.

Comment by Rod Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 4:13 pm
Showing a glimmer of functional government is refreshing and a useful reminder of how the cogs are meant to turn.

Lots of justified skepticism about the outcome, but we are so starved that we need a day or two to behold simple legislating as a work of art.

Comment by peon Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 4:17 pm
===the Senate’s admirable make-nice isn’t going to deter anyone else from backing down===

OK, fine. Continue the battle on those other fronts, but we still need a budget.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 4:32 pm
Dang, an extra $3 tax for my case of Coke? Now I know how smokers have felt the last couple decades.

Comment by Shemp Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 4:42 pm
Stealing a Trump line is appropriate when you introduce legislation that will most assuredly re-elect Brucey. Great job Pres Cullerton I hope you get a favorable Trib editorial because that seems to be the only thing that this will accomplish.

Comment by Obamas Puppy Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 4:55 pm
Fine fine but who’s gonna eat the sin?

You know Rauner is demanding local government and school system union employees eat the sin right?

That’s what we’re not talking about?

The sin eater takes the bread on the body (Illinois) and runs, being stoned fleeing town and thereby takes the sin of the deceased.

People need to realize that if “flexibility” In collective bargaining is part of the deal then you make Union county, municipal workers and teachers the sin eaters.

The fact that no one will engage me on this tells me that it’s true. Nobody seems to be able to look me in the eye. Come and have the decency to tell me to my face that these faithful good city, county workers plus teachers are to handed over to those who would cut their pay, cut their healthcare, increase or decrease their hours at will. When you grant “flexibility” in collective bargaining to secure a budget you will throw thousands of families into financial turmoil.

If this is part of the deal then Rauner will have destroyed AFSCME and IFT. Trades will be next. Rauners use of Malum in se means will be rewarded and he won’t stop.
If you make a deal. Have the decency to sink the knife face to face.

I hope you’ll let this out Rich.

Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 4:58 pm
If only Madigan could behave like Fullerton, then I would have dumped all ties to the Republican party years ago.

Comment by Skirmisher Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 5:07 pm
I sincerely hope President Cullerton’s arm isn’t too sore. Otherwise, yes…more of this.

Comment by dray Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 8:15 pm